Door construction



Nov. 24, 1931. P. F. cooK E'rAl.

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 192e 2 sneqts-sheer 1 PM mx/ENTOR- Bm/ErE/e .Z 600K.

Arron/m' 24, 1931. y p F, COOK ET AL 1,832,966

' DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, '1931 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL F. 000K AND vSYL'V'ES'LLER J`. COOK, JR., OF LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application :tiled April 9,

Uur invention relates to door construction, particularly to doors, such as used for garages, factories, warehouses, or firedoors` for separating different portions of a building,

and the like.

The objects of our invention are: First, to provide a construction of this class whereby the door, when removed from over the door opening, is limited to the normal confines of '0 the door, and, when withdrawn, is positioned in a relatively small, narrow space at one end of the door opening; second, to provide a door of this class which consists of a plurality of panels which, when thedoor is removed from over the door opening, are disconnected from each other and positioned in compact relation i one behind the other out of the way beyond the door opening; third, to provide a door of this class consisting of a plurality of panels inseparably lockedv relative to each other when the door is positioned over the door opening but which are readily disconnected when the door is removed from over the opening; fourth, to provide a door of this i" class consisting of a plurality of panels which are not only `inseparably locked relative to each other when the door is placed over the door opening, but in which the lower panels are supported by the next upper panel and the upper panel supported by the door frame; fifth, to provide novel link means for removing the door from over the door opening and collapsing the panels comprising the' door relative to each other; sixth, to provide novel means for connecting the several panels relative toeach other and novel means for disconnecting the several panels as the same are shifted beyond the door opening; seventh, to provide novel means `for supporting the several panels when disconnected, which supporting means is controlled and actuated by the next adjacent panel before the latter is removed from over the door opening and before the latter and the former are disconnected to provide n-ovel spring means for variously balancing the door either when all of the panels are connected, or a part thereof are connected thereby facilitating the shift ing of the door over and fromthe door opening; eighth, to provide aspring mechanism 1928. Serial No. 268,451.

of this class consisting of a plurality of separate cooperating as well as independently functioning springs so as to reduce danger to a minimum in case oueof such springs fails; ninth, to provide novel means for actuating the door shifting means, which actuat- .ing means is adapted to lock the several panels in their shifted position beyond the door opening; tenth,` to provide a novelly constructed and controlled electric motor means for shifting the door from and over the door opening; eleventh, to provide novel means for automatically permitting the shifting of the door over the opening in case of fire, by releasing the shifting means from the actuating means; twelfth, to provide an automat-ic release means of this class for safety purposes in case of fire which is so arranged with the structure that the door will be shifted slowly `over the opening and with relatively little force; thirteenth, to provide as a whole a novelly constructed door and means for actuating and controlling the same; and, fourteentlnto provide a structure of this class which is simple and economical proportionate to its function, durable, positive in its action, easy to open and close, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and lother objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangements of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this `application in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view taken from the inside of the building or the inner side of the door, showing by dotted lines the panels in their upwardly shifted position; Fig. 2

-is a sectional elevational view thereof taken through 2-2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof in plan, taken through 3 3 of Fig.'1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the means for connecting and disconnecting the panels and for supporting the same; Fig. 5 is a similar view thereof, showing a pair of panels immediately after being connected and one of them held inl a raised position by the next adjacent panel; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational view thereof taken through 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fi'f. 7 is a sectional elevational view thereof, taken through 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a .longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the pivotal mountings of the actuating or raising lever and the actuating gear means, and showiner the counter balance springs for the lever; zFig. 9 is an elevational view of the hub portion of the lever, showing the arrangement of the counter balance spring therein; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View showing the electrical control for the operating motor; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view siinilar to that of Fig. 1, but showing a different means of actuating the raising means; and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevational view thereof taken through 12-12 of Fig. 11, showing the manual control means and the means for locking the same in its extreme shifted positions.

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the drawings.

The panels of our door, illustrated in the drawings, which is the preferred embodiment thereof, consists of a plurality of sheet metal plates 1, 2 and 3, the number shown being merely illustrative of the structure. All of said panels are substantially of the same construction, the same having main panelportions andoutwardly directed flanges at their upper ends and inwardly vdirected flanges at their lower ends, or edges, as indicated by la, 2a and 3a, representing the upper flanges and 1b, 2b and 3b representing the lower flanges. Around the door opening, designated A, is a frame consistingof vertical side members 4 and a horizontal member 5, bounding the upper side of the door opening. In the side members 4 are provided a plurality of-vertical channels 4a, 4b and 4c in which the lateral vertical edges of the panels 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, vertically reciproc'ally mounted and guided. The inner side of the horizontal frame member 5 extends only to the groove or channel 4a. This frame member 5 is adapted to support the panel 1 by means of the upper flange 1a of the panel, as shown in Fig. 2, when the door is closed. The flange l?) supports at its' upper side and at its inner edge the flange 2a of the next adjacent panel, indicated by 2. and in this manner to the lower panel.

and outer sides of the lower flanges of all of the panels except the lower, and extend upwardly through notches at the ends of the flanges, as indicated, respectively, by 1c in the flange 1b and2c in the flange 2a in Figs. G'and 7 The upper ends of the catches are provided with hooks which engage the upper sides of the flanges 2a and 3a inwardly from the cutout or recess portions 2c therein, 'as shown best in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. These catches are prevented, when the door is in a closed position, from being disengaged from the flanges 2a and 3a by reason of their engagement or proximate engagement with the frame members 4, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 6, but are shifted out of the way when the several panels are raised, as will be described hereafter.

The continuity of the frame members 4 is preferably broken, as indicated by 4d, immediately above the door opening for the purpose of mounting the panel holding means and the latch shifting means, although only a portion of such frame members may be cut out for this purpose. These means are mounted on bars or plates 8 which are secured by screws 9 to the upper ends of the lower sections 4c of the frame members 4. On these plates 8, one of which is mounted at either side of the door, are secured a plurality of upwardly directed U-shaped brackets 10, the number on each plate being one lessthan the total number of panels. In each ofthese brackets is rotatably mounted a rocksha'ft 1l which extends onlya slight distance beyond the outer sides of the bracket, and is held in position therein by pairs of lugs l2 and 13, respectively, at the ends of the shaft extending toward the outer side and the inner side of the door. These lugs, or arms as they may be called, 12 and 13 are preferably radial arms and positioned at an angle of approximately sixtxy degrees to each other. The arms 13 are adapted to be engaged by upwardly extending portions or lugs, designated 2d in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 for rotating the rock shaft and shifting the arms 12 into the channels 4a and 4?) below the lower edges of the next adjacent upper panel before the catches 6 are disengaged from the upper flanges of the panels. lVhen the door is positioned over the door opening, the arms 12 and 13 are in substantially the position shown in Fig. 4 and are'retained in such position by a spring 14 positioned around the rock shaft intermediate the legs of the U-shaped bracket with one end of the spring extended into the rock shaft and the other c-onnected to a pin 15 secured in one of the legs of the bracket against which the arm l2 engages, said spring forcing the arm 12 against the pin l5 extending beyond the outer side of said arm of the bracket l0. It will be here noted that the arms 12 and 13 are offset at their free ends from the legs of the adjacent rock shaft to rotate in substantially the same plane at their outer ends, that is, in line with one panel guiding channel and one panel. One of the legs of each bracket is extended beyond the door face of the frame member 4 and is provided at said end with a pair of vertically and horizontally spaced apart lugs or pins 16 and 17 which are adapted to be engaged by the catch 6 for shifting the same into and out of engagement with the upper 'flanges of the panels. rll`he upper flanges of said panels,

, however, are adapted to pass the extended end of such leg of the bracket 10 by reason of the cut out portion, designated 2c in F 'igs. 6 and 7 The operation of the panel holding means and the catch shiftingmeans is as follows:

As the lower`panel 3 is raised by means to be described hereafter all of the panels are raised simultaneously. As soon as panel 1 nears the position designated B in Fig. 1,

' the lug 2d extending-beyond the normally upper edge of the panel 2 engages the arm 13 positioned in alignment therewith and gradually shifts the same by rotating the rock shaft 11 to the positionof the arm 13 shown in Fig. 5, simultaneously rotating or shifting 'the arm 12 from the position shown in Fig. 4

to the position shown in Fig. 5, the arms 12 and 13 being so spaced that as the arm 13 is shifted, the arm 12 is shifted underneath the lower edge of the panel 1. Beforel the arm 13 is shifted to the extreme position shown in Fig. 5, the beveled edge at the upper or 'free end of the catch 6 engages the lug 16 and rotates the same about its pivotal axis to the position shown by dashed lines in Fig. 5, said position being in part limited by the lug 17. The shifting of the catch 6 to the position stated, permits the ange 2a of the panel to clear the catch and to be raisedl and slide upwardly at the inner side of the panel 1, said flange 2a also clearing the arm or leg upon which the lugs 16 and 17 are mounted, as Stated above. -As the panel 2 is raised, the arm 13 rides on the lateral edge of the panel 2 and is retained in the position, as shown in Fig. 5, by the spring 14 and also theweight of the panel 1 on the arm 12. It will be here noted that we have provided'in conjunctionupwardly with the panel 3, and others, if more than three panels are employed, the lug on the panel 3 corresponding with the lug 2d engages the arm 13 on the next rock shaft, rotating the same and shifting the arm 12 on the same-rock shaft underneath thejlower edge of the panel 2, thus, in sequence, disconnecting theseveral panels and Vholding the same. The last, or lower panel 3 is held in its upward position by the raising means to be described hereafter. When the panel 3 is again lowered, the arm 13 in engagement therewith is poermitted to be rotated by the action of the spring 14 and by the weight of the panel 2 after the arm 13 is in such a potion as to ride on the upper edge of the lug on the panel 3 corresponding with the lug 2d on the panel 2. Before the arm 12 on the same rock shaft is shifted 'clear of the lower edge of thepanel 2, the panel 2 is lowered slightly permitting the catch 6 carried by the panel 2 to be released from the lug 16 and to be shifted inwardly by the lug 17 facilitated by the action of a spring 19 mounted on the pin on which the catch 6 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, in sequence, the -next upper, panels are again released from the holding means and connected together by their respective catches.

The means for raising the lower panel. and therefore all the panels, consists 'of lazypivotally connected intermediate their ends with the free ends of each pair pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the next adjacent pair of links. The lower free ends of the lower pair of links are reciprocally and pivotally mounted in horizontal channels of channel members 33 at the inner side and nearthe lower edge ofthe panels 3 and located at the opposite sides of the vertical axis thereof. The pivotal connection at the intermediate portions of the lower pairV of links is reciprocally mounted in a vertical direction in a channel of the guide member 34, also secured to the inner side of the panel 3 but at the vertical axis thereof. The upper pair of links are only half links and are pivotally connected-at their upper ends and pivotally mounted at said ends on a pivot member 35 supportedy at the inner-side of the wall of the garage or, other building above the door opening, such position of the member 35 depending uponv the width of the panels used.

In raising the panels, the lazytongs are contracted, or actuated, the'preferred form for such contraction or actuation being shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. and consists of a controlled motor actuating means. The motor 36 in this instance is supported by the wall of the building preferably above the upper position of the panels. On the shaft 36a of this motor is mounted a worm 37 which engages a worm gear in the form of a quadrant 38. This worm gear or quadrant is rotatably tongs made up of pairs of links 31 and 32 mounted on a shaft 39 which is non-rotatably secured in a bracket 40 by a set screw or other suitable means 41. The bracket 40 is supported on a header 42 which is positioned above the. door opening and secured at its ends to the two vertical frame members 4. The shaft 39 extends beyond the other side of the bracket 40 and on the latter end is mounted the hub 43a of the lazytongs actuating lever 43 which is pivotally connected at its free end by a link 44 to the pivotal connection of the second lower pair of links of the lazytongs. The quadrant 38 and the arm 43 which are both rotatable on the shaft 39 are non-rotatably connected by a fusible link 45. As the quadrant is rotated, the rotary movement is imparted to theA arm 43 by said fusible link. Thisfusible link is used only in case the door is used as a iire door and yields, melts, or is extended when the fusible metal thereof melts and permits the arm 43 to be released from the quadrant and the door panels to drop by gravity. The link 45 is of conventional construction and We claim no novelty therein. When the doors are not to be used as fire doors, an ordinary link is substituted for the fusible link. The door panels and the lazytongs are counterbalanced by a spiral spring 46 which is preferably mounted on or within the hubv43a which in this instance is hollow, one endy of the spring being inserted into a slot 43?) in the hub and the other end in a slot 39a in the shaft. This spring consists of a plurality of similar springs, as shown best in Fig. 8, so that the panels will be more or less balanced even though one or more ofthe separate spring sections fail. The tension of the spring may be readily varied by rotating the shaft 39 in the bracket and securing the shaft in such altered position by the set screw 41. The arm 43 is preferably held in position on the shaft 39 by a nut 47 within the hub and the spring sections are retained within the hub by a collar 48 secured to the outer end of the shaft and locked in position thereon by a nut 49. The collar 48 also supports the eX- tended end of the hub. Between the spring sections and the collar 48 may be positioned other collars 5() which may be removed and substituted by other spring sections when desiring to vary the action of the spring considerably. It will be here noted that the springs are accessible at all times -by removing the nut 49 and the collar 48. It will be y also noted that the spring 46 counterbalances only the weight of the panels which are not held in a raised position by the panel holding and catch release means previously dcscribed. The motor 36 is connected with the current by a manually operated switch 61, as shown in the wiring diagram in Fig. 10. This switch is adapted, when shifted to one position, to connect a wire 62 to the lead 63. and when shifted in the other lposition to connect the wire 64 to the same lead. In the wires 62 and 64 are placed other switches 65 and 66, respectively, which are connected together in such a manner that when the two ends of one wire 62 are connected, the wire 64 is broken, as shown. The switches 65 and 66 are also connected to an arm 67 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a bracket 68 which is mounted on another bracket 69 supported by the header 42. Intermediate the pivotal mounting of the arm 67 and the end thereof connected with the switches 65 and 66 is connected the one end of a spring 70 the other end of which is secured tothe bracket 69. At the opposite end of the arm 67 are spaced apart lugs 67a and 67?) which are adapted to be alternately engaged at their adjacent sides by a pin 71 carried by the quadrant 38. These lugs also engage stop pins 72 and 73 carried by the bracket 69.

The operation of the motor actuating means is as follows:

As the switch 61 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 10, the motor 36 is connected in a certain manner to the electric current so as to rotate the same in one direction for raising the door. As the quadrant reaches the end of its stroke or opposite position, the pin 71 carried thereby engages the lug 67?) shifting the arm 67 about its pivotal mounting and as soon as said arm is shifted so that the spring 70 is at the opposite side of the pivotal axis of the arm, said spring carries the arm to its extreme position in the opposite direction so that the lug 67a engages the pin 72. The latter shifting of the arm 67 shifts the switches 65 and 66 so that the wire 62 is broken and the wire 64 connected which takes place when the panel 3 is'clear of the door opening. The switch 66 is then in such position that when desiring to again close the door, the switch 61 is shifted to its opposite position which sends the current through the wire 64 and connects the motor in a different manner with the current and rotates the same in the opposite direction.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the same arm 43, shaft 39, bracket 40 and link 45 are employed, but the quadrant 38. is replaced by an arm 81 which is provided with an offset portion 82 which is pivotally connected to the link 45. The free end of the arm 81 is pivotally connected by a rod 83 with an offset arm 84a of an arm 84 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 85 Yalso supported by the header 42. To the free end of the arm 84 is connected a rod 86 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a slide 87 which is reciprocally mounted in a vertical direction in guide means 88 supported on the inner side of the building wall, or garage wall. Through the building wall is a slot C through which extends an arm or handle 89 which is secured to the slide 87.

. 'whenthe arm 89 is in its upper or in its lower position. Atv the upper and lower ends of the slot are provided lugs 90 and 91 for locking the handle 89 by asuitable lock in its upper or lower position or the door in its closed or open positions. It will be noted that 1 the arms 81 and 84 are of such length and are so mounted relative to eachother and connected to each other that when the arm 84 is in its dotted line position, that is, when the .door is open, the link S3 will be below the pivotal axis of thel arm 84 and therefore prevents the door from being closed of itself, or from being closed until the arm or handle 89 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 12.

Though we have shown a 'particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, and a certain modification thereof, we do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of our invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new` and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door astructure of the -class described, a lurality of separate interconnected pane s adapted to be readily disconnected one from the other when said panels are shifted to their open position, and a panel holding means having an arm adapted to be, engaged and actuated by one of said panels and having another arm shiftable by the former arm for engaging and holding the adjacent normally higher panel when the lat-- ter is shifted clear of the door opening.

2. In a door structure of the class described, a plurality of separate interconnected panels, and a panel holding means comprising a rock shaft having spaced apart arms secured thereto and positioned at an angle relative to each' other, one of said arms being engageablev by the upper portion of one pane for rotating saidrock shaft when said panel is raised for'extending the other arm below the lower portion ofthe adjacent normally upper panel for holding the latter, the first arm being adapted to ride against the lateral edge of the first panel.

3. In a door structure of the class described, a plurality of separate panels poitioned in different planes, said panels having inwardly extending flanges at their lower edges "and the adjacently positioned panels having outwardly extended ianges at their upper edges adapted to rest on the first flanges, and catches pivotallyl mountedv on the lower sides of the first anges and adapted tobe extended inwardly' over the upper er edges and the adjacently positioned panels having outwardly extended. flanges at their upper edges adapted to rest on the first anges, catches pivotally mounted on the lower sides of the first flanges and adapted to be extended inwardly over the upper sides of the second flanges, and a door frame upon which said panels are slidably mounted, said catches being prevented frpmbeing released by said door frame said frame having re.- cesses at the upper portion of the door opening for permitting said catches to be forced outwardly for releasing said second anges whereby said panels are disconnected.

5. In a door structure' lof the class described, a door frame, the side members thereof having horizontally spaced apart vertical channels, a plurality of door panels one reciprocally guided in a channel in each side to each other, and panel holding and catch release means mounted on said frame, said' panel holding and catch release means adapted to be actuated by one panel for shifting the same in holding relation with the next adjacent upper panel, said catches engaging said catch release means when said adjacent upper panel is shifted clear of the frame opening and supported by said holding means.

6. In a door structure, a plurality of panels slidably mounted relative to each other and adapted, whenclosed over a door opening, to be extended relative to each other with their adjacent edges overlapped, means for positively locking -said panels against ver tical movement relative to each other in extended relation a'nd for positively locking the overlapped edges' of adjacent panels together, and other means in operative relation with the first means for consecutively releasing the means, locking a pair of panels together, when the upper panel of the pair tively connecting adjacent panels in extended relation when the same are placed inthe door opening, and other means for releasing the latches when the upper of the connected panels is shifted above the door opening, said means also holding the unlatched panel above the door opening.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 12th day of March 1928.

PAUL F. COOK. Y SYLVESTER COOK, JR. 

